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The barn is located at the end of Santa Clara Road in southern Atascadero. From San Luis Obispo, proceed north on Highway 101 to the Santa Barbara Road exit. Turn right on Santa Barbara and proceed to El Camino Real. Turn right and head south on El Camino to Santa Clara Road. Turn left and go to the end of the road.

In a news release, Macagni, an Arroyo Grande High School alumnus, said: “It is imperative during these challenging economic times that the next sheriff be a strong leader with significant law enforcement department head experience. I have known Chief Cortez for nearly 10 years and am impressed with his strong leadership, proven track record of success, and the key law enforcement agency head connections he has in place.”

The sheriff oversees a staff of 392 with a $55 million budget, and the department patrols about 3,200 square miles in the unincorporated areas of the county.

— Cynthia Lambert

South County

A dozen South County civic leaders have endorsed Jim Guthrie in his campaign to succeed Katcho Achadjian as the South County representative on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors.

Achadjian is stepping down this year after his third term as 4th District supervisor. He will run for the 33rd Assembly District seat being vacated by Sam Blakeslee, who cannot run again because of term limits.

Guthrie, an Arroyo Grande city councilman and general manager of the Spyglass Inn, picked up endorsements from fellow Arroyo Grande council members Chuck Fellows and Joe Costello.

“I’ve worked with Jim on the Arroyo Grande Planning Commission and then City Council for 10 years,” said Costello. “He has proven to have the leadership abilities, the ability to analyze issues and the real-world experience to guide the county through the difficult issues it faces in the coming years.”

Others backing Guthrie include Pismo Beach City Council members Michelle Higgenbotham, Ed Waage, Ted Ehring and Kris Vardas; Grover Beach Mayor John Shoals and council members Robert Mires and William Nicolls; Nipomo Community Service District members Ed Eby, Michael Winn and Larry Vierheilig; and San Luis Obispo City Council members John Ashbaugh and Jan Howell Marx.

— Bob Cuddy

Atascadero

Assembly candidate Etta Waterfield is inviting residents to the grand opening of her Atascadero office from5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday. The office is at 6760 El Camino Real.

Atascadero Mayor Roberta Fonzi and Councilman Bob Kelley will host the event, which will include light appetizers and beverages.

In a news release, Waterfield said she is running for the 33rd Assembly District seat “to cut the heavy regulations and red tape that hold back job and economic growth” as well as to “protect taxpayers from higher taxes and to balance the state budget by ending runaway spending.”

For information or to RSVP, call 460-9537.

Waterfield, a former Santa Maria planning commissioner, is one of six candidates running to replace Sam Blakeslee in the 33rd Assembly District, which includes San Luis Obispo County and parts of northern Santa Barbara County. Blakeslee cannot run again because of term limits.

Other Republicans in the contest include Paso Robles City Councilman Fred Strong; San Luis Obispo County Supervisor and California Coastal Commissioner Katcho Achadjian; and Matt Kokkonen, a San Luis Obispo financial planner.

Santa Maria City Councilwoman and Democrat Hilda Zacarias also is in the race, as is Libertarian Paul Polson.